Method and means for blocking hats



Mayll, 1948.

A. REINSBERG METHOD m MEANS FOR BLOCKING HATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 5, 1946 May 11, 1948.

A. REINSBERG METHOD AND MEANS FOR BLOCKING HATS 2 Sheebs-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 5, 1946 Patented Ma 11, 1948 UNITED .S TATES PATJEN OFF I CE.METHOD Means FQB IBLOCKING HATS Adolph Reinshcrg, Chicago, 111.Application February 5, 1946, Serial No. 645,173

.4 Claims. (craze-412) The present :mvention relates to the blockin ofheadgear such as common hats and caps, and more particularly totheblocking of headgear in production manufacture, but it does haveapplication in reblocking of hats.

In the present description, [and in reference to the present invention,the term hat is used hereinafter in its generic sense for headgear ofnumerous varieties, including crowns without visors or brims, crownswith visors such as caps,

invention provides a device which permits blocking of hats to beaccomplished with great rapidity, with small eifort on the part of anoperator, and with a minimum of danger of burning the operator, or thehat.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a device to blockhats with speed and facility.

It is another object of the invention to provide a heated form having atemperature above the boiling point or water, and means to stretchor'smooth a moistened hat onto said form and hold it in that conditionwhile it is being blocked.

I It is another object of the invention to provide a heated form throughwhich steam may be admitted for a short'intervalpf time to steam the'h'at as a step in the blocking process.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a device withpedals for controlling the discharge of steam and for operating thehatclamping means.

Numerous other and ancillary objects and ad- 'vantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following description and explanation ofthe invention as'shown in the accompanying drawings in which:v

, Fig. l is a perspective view of an exemplary device ready to receiveahat.

.Fig. 2 is a crossesection showing the bottom and pedal structure takenon the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig; 3 is a vertical cross'section of the upper portion taken throughthe center of the device on line 3-4 of Fig. 4.

'Fig. 4 is a horizontaltross-section near the top-of the device taken onthe line l-ll of Fig. 3 1

be blocked is merely positioned on a form made to .-fit the interior ofthe cap, and then a blast of steam from the form is shot into the cap,thus moistening the cap. In preferred practice the cap, with or withouta lining, -is a little scant in size to fit the block for it, requiringthe cap to be stretched slightly to fit the block. But because the blockis very hot, it is not safe for an operator to do this with bare hands.The operator manipulates the device to move clamping and holding meansonto the moistened cap as it is resting ever the form, said means "beingalso capable of stretching the cap if need be, thereby to smooth andshape the cap on the form. The form is highly heated, and the heatdriest-he moisture from the stretched hat quickly and almostinstantaneously so that the cap may be readily and quickly removed fromthe form as a blocked cap.

Ihave found in attempts to introduce steam to a hat through a hat-blockby certain constructions thereof, including that illustrated in thedrawings, there are practical objections. For one, there is condensatewhich collects in the block, unless special means are provided to leadit away. The condensate may arrive with the :steam, or form in theblock. The amount of condensate may vary in the time intervals betweenactivedi'scharges of steam. This condensate is in part or in entirety,depending upon conditions, blown with the steam into the hat. Noregularity in the degree of moistening can be achieved.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the hat-blockis heated to a temperature above the boiling point of water, thus toavoid, or to boil off, condensate and maintain a dry steam chamber inthe block.

Various means may be employed so to heat the form, not only to dry thesteam chamber where such is present, but also to cause the form to dryout the moistened hat, whether or I 9? the moistening is effected, bysteaming ator to hold the headgear onto a form sufficiently hot that itwill quickly dry moist material, there is provided a mechanical holdingdevice. *This is specially constructed to be complementary to aparticular hat or to a form conforming twosome particular headgearplaced on the form. The particular design of the holding means will varyaccording to the character of the headgear or according to particularpreference. It is such as to assure that the steamed headgear is,adequately and properly held smoothly on the form while it is beingdried or blocked. V

The form of the invention particularly illustrated in the drawings has astandard comprising four legs Ill made of an angle iron, and suitablybraced by the cross-brace II at the front and near the fioor, and bythree other braces 12, I3 and I4 between the legs Vlil at a moreelevated position from the floor. I

A rod l5 serves as a pivotal shaft support, being mounted horizontallyat the rear of the machine above the cross-brace [3. Two foot pedals l6and i! are pivoted on the rod l5. The pedal I6 is mounted on an arm I8of which the rear end has a cylindrical head l9 serving as a bearing onthe rod I5. A'spring is connected to the arm l8 and extends upwardly toa finger 2i projecting inwardly from the cross-brace I 2. The springurges the pedal l6 upwardly and thereby operates a connecting rodhereinafter described which controls a supply of steam.

The pedal I1 is connected by two arms 23 and 24 which together form afork which carries at its open end a cylindrical head 25 pivoted on therod [5. A link 26 is connected pivotally between the two arms 23 and2-4, and extends upwardly for operating clamping, or stretching andclamping means, later described. 7

The legs [0 have a table top 30 which provides a foundation upon whichto secure the hat-form. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the hat-form is asubstantially hollow dome-shaped form 3|, made to fit cap snugly andpreferably made of aluminum. A cap 32 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and

has a crown portion 33 and a visor 34. The bottom of the dome 3| has aflange portion 35, which serves in part as a reinforcement to maintainthe form in its desired shape. Secured to the flange 35 are two pairs oflegs 36 and 31. The pair of legs 36 merely rests upon the table top 30.The other legs 31 are similar to the legs 36, but are secured to thetable top by angle iron connections 38 which have screws 39 into thelegs and anchor bolts 40 riding in slots 4| in the table top, thus topermit forward and rearward adjustment of means such as that illustratedby 45. The gas flame plays on a steam chamber in the form 3|.

Transversely of the interior of the form 3! there is a partition 48providing a chamber 49 at the top of the dome. Numerous pinholes 50through the dome act as steam-jet openings communicating from thechamber 49 to a hat placed on the form. The partition 48 has a tappedopening 5| therein, into which is threaded a short length of pipe 52carrying at its end above the table top, one portion of a union 53. Theother portion of the union '53 is connected to a length of pipe 54passing through the table top 3!] and beneath the table connected to avalve 55 located in steam supply line 56. Pipe 54 is movable with theform 3| by reason of a slot 51 in the table top 30, covered by a collarplate 58 car ried by .the pipe 54. The valve 55 has a fixed bracket 59to which is pivoted an operating arm 60 connected by link 5| to the armI 8 carrying pedal I The valve. operating arm 60 has a finger 52 whichpresses pin 63 to open the valve for passing steam when pedal [6 isdepressed.

Above the table top there is a bracket to which is pivoted a carrier forthe clamping means, and the carrier is operated by the said link 25 inturn operated by the second pedal ll. The bracket is formed by two arms65 and 65 each welded or otherwise secured at one end to the table andeach approaching the other at the other ends 61 and 68, respectively.These ends carry a connecting pin 69 between them serving as a pivot foran arm or lever 15 swinging in a vertical plane. Lever it extendsforwardly toward the block, and when generally horizontal is inhathclding position. At the forward end of the lever l'ii there is ayoke-shaped finger H with a leather lining i2, which clamps one side ofa hat. An adjustably positioned yoke 73 is carried by and extendsvertically from the lever 10 over the form to the front side thereof, atwhich the end '34 of the yoke 13 carries an adjustable plate 15 mountedby slot and screw structure F5. The plate E5 carries a yoke-shapedfinger it with leather lining i8 complementary to the yoke-shaped fingerT2 to hold the hat on the forward side. Any suitable mounting, such as19, holds yoke i3 adjustably mounted on lever ill. The operating link 26from the pedal I1 is connected to the forward side of lever 10 andpivoted thereto at 80. The rear arm of lever H1 carries a spring 8! intension between it and the link 26; Thereby the spring 8| urges the reararm of lever Hi andthe link 26 to close about their pivot so. This urgesthe pedal I 7 upwardly and urges the holding means H and 11 away fromengagement with the cap shown.

In operation, the operator places a hat, such as the cap shown, looselyover the form, and at the same time depresses the pedal Hi. This gives ashot of dry steam to the cap and sufiiciently moistens it. ."Then as themoisture equalizes itself in the fabric the-operator depresses pedal i!against the urge of spring 8i while at the same time adjusting the capinto ultimate form to be held by the mechanical fingers.

In the case of a cap it is preferred that the relative sizes of the formand of the unblocked cap be such as to require-the mechanical fingersand clamping means to stretch the cap ontothe form. This results instretching the cap-material locally in varying degrees and thereby trulyshaping the cap; Where a lining is P ent, this also is shaped orstretched if required, to 65i neatly with the cover. Having stretchedthe cap on the form, the operator retains the pedal I! in depressedcondition while the heated form 3| effects almost instantaneous dryingof the cap sufiiciently to leave it in blocked condition when removed.In the meantime the operators hand are free to prepare the next cap forplacement on the form. When the cap is ready for removal clamp I7 isallowed to rise by action of spring 8!, the blocked hat is removed, andthe cycle is repeated.

The device in operation as described brings many times more pressure onthe stretching of the cap over a block, and gives a more uniformstretching, than the old-style hand-blocking with wooden blocks.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that numerous changes andmodifications may be made in the device Without departing from theinvention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hat blocking machine, in combination: a hollow dome of metalconforming to the desired shape and having a continuously convex outerworking surface; an upper portion of said dome having small perforationsto permit exit of steam or other gases; a partition below saidperforated portion defining a steam chamber, the walls of which includesaid perforated portion; said dome extending down beyond said partitionto define a deep downwardly opening bowl; pipe connections fordelivering live steam through said partition into said chamber; aconstantly operating gas burner in said bowl near the upper portionthereof for heating said bowl and partition directly and the remainderof said dome by conduction through the metal; stretching fingers shapedto'partially encircle said dome at front and back, and movably mountedto move down and force a hat over said dome by contact only and byengaging the peripheral edge portions only of a hat positioned over saiddome, leaving the rest of said hat directly exposed to atmosphere; asupport holding said dome in position for easy access to a standingoperator; connections between said support and dome for adjusting theposition of said dome to secure eifective engagement with one of saidstretching fingers; means for adjusting the other of said fingers to theadjusted position of said dome; two control pedals, each normallyelevated and in position to be conveniently depressed by the foot of anoperator standing in front of said dome; connections between one pedaland said pipe connections for delivering steam only as longas theoperator holds the pedal down, and connections between the other pedaland said stretching fingers for actuating said stretchin fingers intostretching position with a variable force controllable by the pressureof the operators foot.

2. In a hat blocking machine, in combination; a hollow dome of metalconforming to the desired shape: an upper portion of said dome havingsmall perforations to permit exit of steam or other gases; a partitionbelow said perforated portion defining a steam chamber, the walls ofwhich include said perforated portion; said dome extending down beyondsaid partition to define a deep downwardly opening bowl; pipeconnections for delivering live steam through said partition into saidchamber; a constantly operatin gas burner in said bowl near the upperportion thereof for heating said bowl and partition directly and theremainder of said dome by conduction through the metal; stretchingfingers shaped to partially encircle said dome at front and back andmovably mounted to move down and force a hat over said dome by contactonly and by engaging the peripheral edge portions only of a hatpositioned over said dome, leaving the rest of said hat directly exposedto atmosphere; a support holding said domein position for easy access toa standing operator; and connections for actuating said stretchingfingers into stretching position with a variable force controllable bythe operator.

3. In a hat blocking machine, in combination: a hollow dome of metalconforming to the desired shape; a portion of said dome having smallperforations to permit exit of steam or other gases; walls defining asteam chamber which includes said perforated portion; stretching fingersshaped to partially encircle said dome at front and back and movablymounted to move down and force a hat over said dome by contact only andby engaging the peripheral edge portions only of a hat positioned oversaid dome, leaving the rest of said hat directly exposed to atmosphere;and connections for actuating said stretching fingers into stretchingposition with a variable force controllable by the operator.

4. In a hat blocking machine, in combination: a hollow dome of metalconforming to the desired shape and having a continuously convex outerworking surface; an upper portion of said dome having small perforationsto permit exit of steam or other gases; means for heating said dome;stretching fingers shaped to partially encircle said dome at front andback and movably mounted to move down and force a hat over said dome bycontact only and by engaging the peripheral edge portions only at a hatpositioned over said dome, leaving the rest of said hat directly exposedto atmosphere; operator-controlled means for delivering steam into saiddome and through said perforations; and connections for actuating saidstretching fingers into stretching position.

ADOLPH REINSBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 49,048 West July 25, 1865 70,912Squier Nov. 12, 1867 72,726 Eickemeyer Dec. 31, 1867 83,590 Ball et alNov. 3, 1868 202,623 Algeo Apr. 23, 1878 220,774 Surerus Oct. 21, 1879408,925 Neave Aug, 13, 1889 462,585 Pittilla -2 Nov. 3, 1891 465,129 FryDec. 15, 1891 483,823 Yule et al Oct. 4, 1892 487,442 Fry Dec. 6, 1892499,492 Yule et a1. June 13, 1893 665,068 Cuming Jan, 1, 1901 1,214,846Tracy Feb. 6, 1917 1,392,605 Stevens Oct. 4, 1921 1,541,997 Page et a1June 16, 1925 1,883,639 Eichenbaum Oct. 18, 1932 2,076,721 Healey Apr.13, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country I Date 10,886 Great Britain June28, 1887 616,740 Germany Aug. 3, 1935

